PN 6120 
.05 
S376 
Copy 1 


@1}£ §>mtta (Elaiw 
(Enmrs tit Irmttlw 


A Christmas Play for Ten Girls 
-and Five Boys-- 

Ages from 10 to 15 Years 


By ELEANOR ALLEN SCHROLL 


PRICE, 10 CENTS 


FILLMORE MUSIC HOUSE 


528 Elm Street 
Cincinnati, O. 


41-43 Bible House 
New York 


























Class. (q I 2l.O 

Book_ ■ C. 5 *3 37 <o 

Copyright^ 0 __ 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 







































I . 











































































. 






* - 








©Cl D 17304 /?_ v ^ / U 

Why Santa Claus 

Comes in December 


A CHRISTMAS PLAY FOR 
TEN GIRLS AND FIVE BOYS 

Ages from 10 to 15 Years 


BY 

ELEANOR ALLEN SCHROLL 

v 



FILLMORE MUSIC HOUSE 

528 Elm Street 41-43 Bible House 

CINCINNATI, O. NEW YORK 


Copyright, 1909, by The Fillmore Bros Co. 





CHARACTERS. 

OlJVE, 

Bueah, 

Laura, */ 

Month Fairies. 

January . 

February.-: . . 

March rft ..,. 

Aprie-t .... 

May n . 

June . . 

July . 

August . 

September r ? . 

October r. 

November .... ; . 

December, t-r .. . 

Santa Ceaus. 



Ordinary girls 


.. .Girl 

.Very small girl 

.Girl 

.Boy 

.Girl 

.Girl 

. Boy 

.Boy 

.Girl 

.Girl 

.Boy 

Bright, happy little lad 


SUGGESTIONS. 

Suitable expressions and gestures should be given the month 
fairies for their recitations. After speaking they may form pretty 
groups (according to seasons) on each side of the platform. Keep 
the center clear for those who follow to enter and recite. 

The finish is left to the decision of the director. If music is not 
desired, the play might end after the three “Hurrahs” have been 
given. Santa should enter promptly. 

Santa should appear as indicated at the last line of the fairies’ 
chorus, and he may then conduct the exercises of merrymaking, 
indulging in becoming hilarity, distributing presents, etc. 

Note. —If the.director does not desire to introduce Santa as a 
final to the play, the song may end it, in which case, of course, no 
change of. chorus, is necessary after the fourth stanza. 















COSTUMES. 

Laura, Bueah and Oeive. Ordinary dress. Laura carrying a bright 
horn. 

January. Coat and furs, and carry wreath lettered with “Happy 
New Year.” 

February. White fur, with tinsel trimming. 

March. Hair and dress stand out as if blown by the wind. Veil 
around hair. 

Aprie. Carry open umbrella. Wear rubber boots, hat and coat. 
May. White, trimmed with flowers. Carry parasol. 

June. Apron and sunbonnet, bare feet, and carry little suitcase. 
Juey. Red, white and blue outfit. Carry flag, rockets, etc. 

August. Bathing suit, bare feet. Carry big fan. 

September. School dress. Carry books and slate. 

October. Red, gold and brown should be used in this dress. Carry 
big bunch of leaves. 

•November. An imitation turkey on a platter may be secured to carry 
in one hand, and a pumpkin under one arm. 

December. Usual Santa outfit. 

SCENERY. 

No special scenery is required. An ordinary, roomy platform, 
with three small chairs for Laura, Bulah and Olive. 



Why Santa Glaus Gomes in December 


{Scene —Ail interior. Bulah and Olive rocking and talking. Bulah 
mending a stocking. Olive holding an old doll.) 

OlivL. Say, Bulah, why are you sitting there mending 
stockings when it’s so near Christmas, and we’ve got, so 
much else to think about? 

Bulah. That’s just the reason I’m mending, just be¬ 
cause it’s so near Christmas. 

Olivl. What on earth~has mending an old stocking got 
to do with Christmas? 

Bulah. Well, it’s this way. I hunted around in the 
stocking basket until I found the longest one.-. Then I saw 
it had a hole in the toe, so I’m mending it, so as to be ready 
for to-night. 

OlivL. But Santa will know that’s not your stocking, 
and he won’t leave anything if you play a trick like that. 

Bulah. Yes, but you see I’m going to hang up two. 
Mine for me, and this long one (holding up stocking) for 
poor Ella, our washerwoman’s little girl. Santa didn’t come 
to see her at all last year, and I was afraid he might miss 
her this time. So I’m going to pin a note to this stocking 
and ask Santa to leave Ella a good share this year. He 
might pass by Ella’s house; but when he comes in here, he’ll 
find her stocking all ready and waiting, and I’m sure he’ll 
not refuse to fill it. 



Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 5 

Olive. Oh, how sweet of you to think of it! I believe 
I’ll run right home and get one ready for the little girl that 
sits back of me in school. She is so poor. 

Bulah (as Olive is about to leave). Wait a minute and 
I'll get you a stocking. Tell me first why you are holding 
that old doll so closely? 

Olive, Well, I thought- I’d be extra good to Dolly 
to-day, as I know she’ll be neglected after I get my new one 
to-morrow— 

(Enter Laura, breathlessly exclaiming:) 

Laura. Oh, girls! Here you are ! What do you think ? 
I just saw a fairy—a Christmas fairy! 

Olive. Where ? 

Bulah. What do you mean ? 

Laura. See this horn? This is what she gave me. 
(Holds up horn.) 

Olive and Bulah. Tell us about it. 

Laura. Well, I was sitting all curled up in the old arm 
chair, thinking about Christmas, and toys, and dear old 
Santa, and lots of other nice things. Then I thought, why 
is it Santa can’t come twice or three times a year? I said 
out loud: “Why did Santa choose December, anyway? It 
seems so long to wait.” Just then a little fairy, all in white, 
stepped up to my chair and said: “A long, long time ago, 
when Santa decided to make us a visit, he started out the 
first of the year, and made a trip, or started one, each month 
after that, but something always happened to stop him, and 
he never got to make the rounds till December. If you wish 
to know a little of Santa’s disappointments that year, take 
this magic horn and blow twelve times, and the fairy for 


6 


Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 


each month will come and tell you its story.” I started up 
to speak, but she was gone. Do you think it was a dream, 
girls? (rubbing her eyes). 

Bueah. I’ve heard of fairies being around at Christ¬ 
mas time. 

Olive. If that’s the horn she gave you, why not try it 
and see if it was all a dream? 

Laura (seating herself). Sure enough, I’ll try it and 
see. (Blows long note on the horn, and January steps in 
promptly, bowing and smiling, and recites, amid the sur¬ 
prised looks of the girls.) 

January— 

My name is January, 

I bring the ice and snow; 

I’ll tell you how Kriss tried to come 
A long, long time ago. 

He came to pay a visit, 

But found, on landing here, 

That every one went calling 
The first day of the year. (Holds up wreath.) 

“Well, it’s no use,” he whispered, 

“I guess I’ll turn about; 

I can’t spoil New Year’s pleasures, 

I see I’m counted out. 

One holiday’s a plenty 
For Jan-ny, anyway. 

I’ll just go home, and try my luck 
Some February day.” 

Laura. See, it wasn’t a dream, after all! 

Bulah. How dandy! 

Olive. Blow again and see what happens. (January 


Why. Santa Claus Comes in December. 


7 

steps to the side, as Laura blows another note, and February 
enters.) 

February— 

I’m just a tiny fairy, 

My name is February; 

I came with snowy flurry, 

And left in quite a hurry. 

In fact, I was so small 
Kriss couldn’t make a call. 

I came and went so fast 
He didn’t know I’d passed. 

That’s how I came to miss' 

Glad Xmas Day and Kriss. 

Bulah. What a dear little fairy! 

Olive. What makes it so small? 

Laura. —Why, it only has twenty-eight days, of course. 
(Blows again as February steps near January. Enter 
March.) 

March— 

I’ll tell you a queer little story, 

How Santa Claus tried to come 
In March, to pay us a visit, 

Away from his far-off home. 

I blew up a terrible wind storm, 

Not knowing Kriss .started that day;. 

I blew paper dolls, little baskets, 

And many bright toys from his sleigh. 

So Kriss got so tired and disgusted 
He said: “Well, alas and alack! 

These March days shall never claim Christinas, 

I’ll just turn around and go back.” 


8 


Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 


Bulah (as March steps aside). Dear me, but Santa did 
have an awful time! 

Laura. Maybe April will treat him better. (Blows. 
Enter April.) 

April (with mirth )— 

I am called the “Month of Showers,” 

And I’ll tell the way 
I played quite a joke on Santa 
One fine April day. 

He had started on his journey, 

“Spick and span” and dry; 

All at once I sent a black cloud 
Sailing ’cross the sky. 

Soon the rain fell fast and faster, 

Soaked Kriss through and through; 

Home he went and said, for Christmas 
/ would never do. 

Olive. What a jolly little fellow! (as April retires 
amid the smiles of the girls). 

Laura. Yes, but that was a mean way to treat Santa. 
I’m sure May will do better. (Blows, and May enters, 
smiling and skipping.) 

May— 

I’ll tell you now without delay 
How Santa tried to come one May, 

And learned each child had gone to stray 
Through wood and vale that sunny day. 

And then poor Kriss was heard to say: 

"This is no place for me to stay, 

Mid Maypole dance and flowers gay.” 

And so he took his homeward way, 


Why Santa Claus Comls in De:ce:mbe:il 9 

And left my pretty month of May 
Without the longed-for Christmas Day. 

(Bows and skips to one side.) 

Bulah. Well, I thought sure Santa could make the 
rounds in May. How disappointed he must have been! 

Olive: (to May). Well, you’re a dear little fairy, any¬ 
way. (To Laura.) Do blow again and hear from June. 
(Laura blows, and June enters promptly.) 

June: — 

Kriss tried to come one day in June, 

But found, to his alarm, 

The children all were packing up 
To go to grandpa’s farm. 

Vacation days had come at last, 

And they were glad to go. 

So Kriss went back and said, in June 
He’d never stand a show. 

So that’s why Christmas Day don’t fall 
In my month, don’t you know. 

(June retires.) 

Bulah. Dear me, I just feel so sorry for Santa. It 
just seems that nobody wanted him at all. 

Olive:. I wish I’d been here then. I’d just have 
dropped everything and received him with open arms. 

Laura. Here comes July. (Blows horn, and July 
enters noisily.) 

July (with spirit and mirth)— 

I have to laugh, ha-ha! ha-ha! 

The trick I played on Kriss; 

’Twas on the jolly Fourth, you know, 


TO 


Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 


And happened just like this. 

I shot bright rockets in the air, 

Great cannon went boom-bah! 

And all the children standing round 
Joined in one loud Hurrah! 

I sent Kriss home most scared to death, 

And vowing ne'er to try 
• To make his Christmas calls again 
In noisy old July. 

(July retires.) 

Olive (shaking her finger at July). That was another 
very naughty trick to play on dear Santa. (To Laura.) 
Please hurry, Laura, and blow for August. (I^aura blows, 
and August enters.) 

August (fanning vigorously )— 

I am “August—Forget-me-not.” 

You can’t, if you would, my days are so hot. 

Kriss thought he would try me, alas and alack! 

He had so much trouble he had to go back. 

I softened the candy, the chocolates and all, 

I melted the wax on the face of the doll; 

I faded the c'olor of everything dark, 

I blistered the paint on the big Noah’s ark. 

I withered and dried up the bright Christmas tree, 

Then Santa Claus said: “This is no time for me.” 

So, being so warm, I lost out, don’t you see? 

(August retires.) 

Olive. I’d just like to shake those naughty fellows. 
How could they do it? And I guess Santa took it good 
naturedly all the time. 

Laura. Perhaps September did better. Let us see. 
(Blows horn, and September enters.) 


Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 


ii 


September— 

I'm September, mild and pleasant, 

Busy days I bring to all, 

And especially little children, 

Who must answer to my call. 

“Come to school, vacation’s over,” 

This I whisper in each ear, 

And I bring them to the teachers 
By the hundreds every year. 

That’s the way Kriss Kringle found them, 

For they all had gone to school. 

Then he said: “I’ll not disturb them, 

They must learn to keep the rule.” 

(September retires.) 

Bueah. Well, that little fairy is not so bad, after all. 
Then I guess Santa prefers work before play at all times. 
But I can’t see why he couldn’t come in October. 

OeivE. Blow quick, Laura, and see what October tells. 
(Laura blows horn, and October enters.) 

October— 

You know I’m the fairy October, 

My dress is of gold, red and brown; 

I paint all the leaves of the forest, 

And bring fruit and nuts to the ground. 

So when Kriss decided to try me, 

He found all the children away. 

On gay nutting parties they wandered, 

Through wood and through forest that day; 

So Kriss said: “I think I’ll be going, 

Next month will be better, I ween.” 

So never again in October 
Was jolly old Santa Claus seen. 

(October retires.) 


12 


Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 


Bulah. Well, did you ever? As I said before, it just 
seems that no one had time for poor Santa those days. 

Olive (impulsively ). I think I know what would keep 
him from coming in November. 

Laura. I believe I can guess, too. Let’s try and see 
if we are right. (Blows horn, and November enters.) 

November— 

When the wind blows cold and chilly, 

When the turkey shakes with fear, 

When the frost is on the pumpkin, 

Then November days are here. 

And I bring you full and plenty, 

You are grateful, too, I know, 

For at church you all assemble, 

Praise and thankfulness to show. 

Well, one bright Thanksgiving morning 
Kriss came driving through the air, 

Found the folks all eating turkey, 

And they had no time to spare. 

So again for home he started, 

As he murmured with a sigh: 

“Guess I’d better ‘smile and hustle,’ 

Only one month more to try.” 

(November retires.) 

Laura. I just imagined that Thanksgiving would stand 
in the way of Santa’s visit in November. 

Olive (impulsively). So did I. But, oh, goody! goody! 
here we are at last to the right month! 

Bulah. Yes, but think of all those other months and 
the disappointments poor Santa had. I have learned a 
lesson in patience from hearing about him. 


Why Santa Chaus Comes in December. 


13 

Laura. I have learned something, too, and hereafter, 
come what may, I’ll “try, try again.” 

Olive. I’ve learned to love dear old Santa more than 
ever, and I’m just dead to see him. (Turning to Laura.) 
Do please hurry, Laura, and blow that horn. I just can’t 
wait till December comes and tells us its story. (Laura 
blows, and December enters.) 

December— 

1 Merry Christmas ! Merry Christmas ! 

That’s my message everywhere, 

For I bring the good old Santa 
On his visits through the air. 

And no wonder I’m so happy, 

Everybody smiles on me, 

And I just reflect the grimace — 

Quite an idea, don’t you see? 

Well, I’m sure it’s nice to be here 
From my home so far away, 

And I’m very glad to tell you 
How I “landed” Christmas Day. 

Kriss was weary from the trials 
He had made in months before, 

But he very soon decided 

lie would try it just once more. 

' So he said to Mrs. Kringle: 

“I have made a big mistake, 

For I’ve always called on youngsters 
When they chanced to be awake. 

Now I’m going just at midnight. 

While the whole earth is asleep, 

And I’ll leave each one a present 
When into the homes I creep.” 

Madam thought that quite an idea. 

So she helped in every way; 


14 Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 

Brought his furs and gloves and muffler, 

Even helped to pack the sleigh. 

Then, when everything was ready, 

And the stars were shining bright, 

Santa started on his journey 
On a cold December night. 

2 Over mountains, through the valleys 
Went the reindeer o’er the snow r , 

Then high up on every housetop 
Good old Santa Claus did go. 

Down the chimneys quickly, softly, 

With his presents he w r ould creep; 

Thus he scattered joy and gladness 
While the children were asleep. 

So I watched these strange proceedings, 

And I thought, “That’s not half bad,” 

So I didn’t interrupt him— 

Little maids, are you not glad? 

4 Well, he went home tired and weary, 

But he’d scattered so much cheer, 

And it gave him so much pleasure 
That he comes back every year. 

5 And we’re always glad to see him, 

So let’s give three loud hurrahs! 

For the peace and joy of Christmas, 

And for dear old Santa Claus. 

1. Expression and voice cheerful. 

2. Expression and voice become thoughtful, as if reflecting. 

3. Turns and addresses the girls. 

4. Thoughtful attitude. 

5. With mirth and spirit. 

All (vigorously). Hurrah! Hurrah! Hur-ra-ah! (See 
suggestions.) 

Olive (promptly, as if in a zvhisper to Laura). Don’t 
you wish the December fairy would have brought Santa 
with him? Ask him if he won’t, please, Laura. 


Why Santa Claus Comes in December. 


i5 


Laura (addressing December). Dear little December, 
we hate to see you and the other fairies go. Could you not 
tell us more, or could you not give us a glimpse of Santa 
before you leave us? 

December. Well, we can not tell you any more, but we 
will sing you .something. Santa always loves to hear us 
sing, and maybe (with a decided wink) he will be attracted 
by the song and join us. 

Olive (os fairies arrange themselves for the song). Oh, 
goody! goody! I hope he comes. 


SONG OF THE SEASONS, or WHAT THEY BRING. 

Eleanor Allen Schboll ''See note below. ) J. H Fillmore 



~»j j 

j T5" 

:i q i q " 

• T.I ~H 

■ d 




4 V r 

5 tkJt. 

*—i—i- 

3 ri 

—Jtz 

^=9- 


1. To bring bright days and flowered ways, We find a pleas - ant du - ty, 

2. We bring such joy to girl and boy, In sum-mer days of glad-ness, 

3. We paint the leaves, we bring the sheaves, 0 har - vest time is cheer - y, 

4. We bring the best of all the rest. We bring the sleigh-bells'jin - gle, 


1-5 




if,-4 






»- 
0 - 0 - 


t= 


- 4 - 






M 



Fine. 

ZTN 


l t t 


W 






q=q: 


4 j—EjzzTfc 

♦ f f $ ^ 




We reign in spring, when ev - 'ry - thing Is bud-ding in - to beau • 

Such real de-light, and days so bright,With-out a tho’t of sad - 

We don’t a - gree at all, you see, That au-tumn days are drear 

We bring the snow, hi e, hi - o, And jol - ly old Kriss Krin - 


rs 


ty 

ness. 

- y- 

gle. 


t 


£ 


=t 




<2 




-I-h- 


■h- 


D.S.- Rejoice we say, be glad al-way, Tra la la la, tra la la. 


Fairies’ Chorus. D. S. 



r -N- V -!— 

N--N -1 

-J -J . j—4—1 




§ 0 J 0 

0 0 J 0 



.. "J - ~ ■ 

' v* 


J m J 




wrz.. ^ 


Z 4 4 

-0—4 0 0 0 


•j - 

Tra la la la la, tra la la la la, Tra la la la la la la la, 

till 


M 

- - - - M _« 


‘ i 

* 1* x* 


" ^ 

r r 

W - W ~W —W ' " W 



7 ^ 

4 


« 1 T 

U \j 1 1 | 

L £? j0 . 


/ 

-1- 

L h 


bp— 


Copyright, 1892, by Fillmore Bro* 


FAIRIE’S CHORUS. (After 4th stanza.) 

Tra la la la la, tra la la la la, 

Tra la la la la la la la, 

Rejoice we say, be glad to-day, 

Here comes our dear Kriss Kringle. 

NOTE.—The Month Fairies group together according to the seasons. The three months 
of Spring advancing to the center sing first stanza, and all the fairies join in the chorus 
Then the three Summer fames advance and sing second stanza: the three Autumn fait- 
ies sing third stanza, and the three Winter fairies sing the fourth stanza. All the fairies 
sing the chorus after each verse. 


COPY OB TO. CAT. OlV 


i r\\ i 




















































































































































/ 

















' 



















' 











* • 


*■ 
















> 













- 






.1 * 






A 
















' 

f 





















































. ’ ’ 


' 











LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


0 034 076 576 A 




